Machine for



No. 6l9,870. Patented Feb. 2|, I899. C. H. CRUWELL.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING EDGE COVERING STRIPS T0 TABLETS.

Application filed Mar. 25, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

25667265565: YQ fnven'or- (mew/em 6 W gomdfiwjam 041%0 rneys.

N0. 6I9,870. Patented Feb. 2|, I899. C. II. CRUWELL.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING EDGE COVERING STRIPS T0 TABLETS.

Application filed Bar. 25, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.-

cfli/orneys.

(p23 JV QQLQ QM... wan

@MM (FA/(6.1L

TEES co, wuoruuwou msmmncm n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CROWELL, LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CARTER, RICE 82; COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING EDGE-COVERING STRIPS TO TABLE TS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,870, dated February 21, 1899.

Application filed March 25, 1898. Serial No. 675,059- (N'o model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

, Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CRoWELL,a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Edge-Covering Strips to Memorandum-Tablets, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. I

In the manufacture of memorandum-tablets and the like articles a number of sheets of paper are assembled together until a mass of the required quantity is produced. The assembled sheets then are treated with adhesive material along the edges of one side and one end in order to bind them together for use; but, as is well known, the adhesive material is applied in such manner as to permit the sheets to be separated from one another readily by hand as required in the use thereof. To theedges which thus have been treated with the adhesive material it is customary to apply a covering-strip of paper for purposes of ornamentation or finish. This strip is of sufficient width to cover the edge of the tablet and lap around slightly upon the face and back sheets of the tablet, and it is equal in length to the combined length of the two edges of the tablet to which the ad hesive material has been applied. In applying the strip the work is performed by hand, the strip, after first having been treated with gum, glue, or paste, being laid in place upon the proper edges of the tablet and pressed down so as to adhere smoothly to the said edges and the adjacent portions of the face and back sheets of the tablet.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of convenient and serviceable character which shall facilitate the work of applying covering and finishing strips as aforesaid, and likewise be fitted for use in other connections in which its functions and mode of operation are capable of being utilized.

The invention consists in the machine of novel and useful character and construction which I now shall proceed to describe with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which latter I have illustrated the best embodiment of the invention which I have yet contrived.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the said embodiment in end elevation looking from the right in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a view of the machine in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view thereof in plan. Fig. 4 is a view in section on the plane which is indicated by the dotted line at 4 in Figs. 2 and 3, looking in the direction that is indicated by the arrows at the ends of such line.

1 designates a table, and 2 2 designate supports upon which the said table is mounted. Any suitable form of supports may be adopted in practice.

3 designates an end piece or stop rising above the level of the upper surface of the table 1 and extending transversely of the said table at or adjacent to one end thereof.

' 4 is a movable follower occupying a position parallel with the raised end piece or stop 3 and made capable of being advanced toward and moved away from the said end piece or stop. With the said follower 4 I combine means whereby to press it in a yielding manner toward the end piece or stop 3. It is intended that a number of tablets which have had the edges thereof treated with adhesive material, as aforesaid, and which are in readiness to have applied to such edges covering and finishing strips of the character which has been indicated hereinabove, shall be placed together side by side and standing on edge upon the upper surface of table 1, between the follower 4 and the raised end piece or stop 3, and parallel with the two latter. The follower acts to compress the series of tablets between itself and the end piece or stop and to hold the tablet which is next adjacent to the said end piece or stop pressed closely against the surface of the latter; also when such tablet is withdrawn from the machine the follower acts to advance the series of tablets until the next tablet in order is pressed against the end piece or stop. Various approved means of advancing the follower in a yielding manner may be adopted. I have employed by preference the arrangement that is shown in the drawings, the same comprising bands or tapes 5 5, which are connected with the said follower, as shown, and pass thence within shallow grooves 6 6, extending lengthwise of the table to and around guides or pulleys 7 7 at the right-hand end of the machine adjacent to the raised end piece or stop 3. The tapes or bands 5 5 may hang vertically downward from the guides or pulleys7 7; but I find it advantageous to lead them inwardly from said guides or pulleys to and around other guides or pulleys 8 8, weights, as 9 9, being attached to the depending portions of the. tapes or bands 5 5. The shallow grooves 6 6 are provided to receive the portions of said tapes or bands that extend along the top of table 1, so that the said tapes or bands shall not become clamped and held between the tablets and the surface of the table. The number of tapes or bands may vary. To guide the follower in its movements and prevent it from rising out of place, I provide the same with a foot, as 10, of dovetail shape in cross-section, fitting a dovetail groove 11 (see Figs. 1 and 3) in the upper side of table 1, the said groove extending lengthwise of the said table. In order to aline properly the series of tablets, I provide a side guide, as 12, located adjacent to one edge of the table 1 and extending lengthwise of the latter-that is to say, at right angles to the end piece or stop 3the foot portion of the said side guide being received in a groove or depression 13 in the upper side of the table 1. When the tablets are placed on the table between the end piece or stop 3 and the follower 4, their glued or cemented side edges are turned uppermost and their glued or cemented ends are turned toward and pushed into contact with the inner vertical face of guide 12. The side guide 12 does not extend along quite as far as the inner vertical face of end piece or stop 3, but terminates short thereof, leaving a gap or opening 14 to permit the tablet restingin contact with the said end piece or stop 3 to be pushed endwise that is to say, in a direction parallel with end piece or stop 3into and partly through the said gap or opening. In order to meet the varying requirements of use, the side guide 2 is made ad j ustable' lengthwise, as by means of slots 15 15, receiving the stems of the holding screws or bolts 16 16. (See Fig. 3.)

In order to give facility in applying the covering and finishing strip to the foremost tablet of the series on table 1, the said tablet being the one which is pressed into contact with end piece or stop 3, I provide for causing the said tablet to be uplifted slightly relatively to the rest of the series and also pushed endwise partly through the gap or opening 14. This will project its glued or cemented edges int-o prominent positions and render them accessible to the operator. 1 effect this automatically by means of the devices which I now shall describe. Thus 17 designates a slide consisting of a thin strip or plate, as shown, and mounted to move in a vertical plane closely adjacent to the end piece or foremost tablet.

sto 3. raiges to the required extent the tablet which is in contact with the said end piece or stop. When the slide is depressed, the removal of the said tablet allows the series of tablets to be advanced by the action of the movable follower, so as to bring the next tablet of such series into contact with the end piece or stop and above the slide 17.

18 is what may be designated herein for convenience a pusher. It is of dovetail shape in cross section and fits a. dovetail groove 19, extending lengthwise of the end piece or stop 3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This pusher is moved along the said groove to project the foremost tablet endwise into and partly through the gap or opening 14. adjacent to the end of side guide 12. For convenience and simplicity I usually connect the said pusher with the slide 17, and I communicate to the said slide a movement having both a vertical component and a horizontal component,whereby as the slide rises and falls in lifting a tablet and resuming its lowered position it also moves endwise, carrying the pusher endwise, so as to project the tablet endwise also and afterward retract the pusher. In the present case I have illustrated the pusher as connected by a link 20 to an arm or extension 171 of the slide, and the slide is mounted upon links or arms 21 21, which latter are connected pivotally to the said slide and also to one of the supports 2. One of the said links or arms 21 is furnished with an extension, as 22, Fig. 1, to which power may be applied or transmitted in known manner.

In operation the extension 22 is depressed by power transmitted or applied thereto,which operates to carry the slide 17 upwardly and also endwise, thereby partially uplifting the The endwise component of the movement of the slide occasions the horizontal advancing movement of the pusher 18, thereby effecting the partial endwise move- When this slide is elevated, it upment of the said tablet, and thereby the edges of the foremost tablets, which are to receive the covering and finishing strip are given su flicient prominence and clearance from the remaining tablets to enable the strip to be applied and smoothed down conveniently and readily. \Vhen the pressure or strain upon extension 22 is relieved, the slide 17 drops back into its original position, carrying the pusher)back into retracted position also. (See Fig. 1.

In order to provide for handling different sizes of tablets, the pusher 18 is made adj ustable with reference to the length of the end piece or stop 3. Thus the point of connection of link 20 with arm or extension 171 of slide 17 is made capable of being varied along said arm or extension, as by forming in the arm or extension the longitudinal slot 21 and adjusting to various points in said slot the bolt 22, which serves to connect the said link to the arm.

23 23, Fig. 1, are openings made in the slide 17 to enable the latter to clear the tapes or bands 5 5 in the movements of the slide;

As will be apparent, the machine is not limited necessarily to use in applying covering or finishing strips to the edges of memorandum-tablets, although it was designed primarily for such use.

I do not in all cases restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts which I have herein shown and described, for the same may be modified in various respects by the adoption of equivalents Without involving any departure from the principles of the invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The improved machine comprising the table, the end piece or stop, the movable follower and means to carry it toward the said end piece or stop, the side guide, and devices for elevating and'moving endwise the tablet which is next adjacent the said end piece or stop, to expose the upper edge and advanced end thereof to the operator.

2. The improved machine comprising the table, the end piece or stop, the movable follower and means to carry it toward the said end piece or stop, the side guide, the slide to elevate the foremost tablet, the pusher to move the said tablet endwise, and means to actuate the said slide and pusher.

3. The improved machine comprising the table, the end piece or stop, the movable follower and means to carry it toward the said end piece or stop, the slide, the pusher connected therewith, and means to communicate to said slide a movement both upward and endwise.

4:. The improved machine comprising the table,'the end piece or stop, the movable follower and means to carry it toward the said end piece or stop, the slide, the pusher connected therewith, and the links or arms connecting said slide with a fixed part of the machine and serving to occasion a movement of said slide both-upward and endwise.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES H. OROWELL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A. COPELAND; 

